Flake ice making machine and knife therefor



Sept. 6, 1955 G. M. LEES FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND KNIFE THEREFOR Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l H- r nun. M

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FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND KNIFE THEREFOR Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 1. H I 70 ii,

Sept. 6, 1955 GEM. LEES FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND KNIFE THEREFOR Filed April 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z fzzz/ezzzz" G m ZZZZeeJ fYiZg/i Sept. 6, 1955 G. M. LEES 2,716,869

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a% f, w 1%.. zw mv w m m 7 WW mxalg m 14 M Q Sept. 6, 1955 FL AKE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND KNIFE THEREFOR Filed April 9, 1951 United States Patent 0 FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE AND KNIFE THEREFOR Gerald M. Lees, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Akshun Mfg.

Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 9, 1951, Serial No. 220,044

10 Claims. (Cl. 62-107) My invention relates to an improved machine for making flake ice and a knife therefor characterized by ability to produce dry flake ice with negligible quantities of powdered ice and in a highly eflicient manner.

Flake ice is a highly useful product for the preservation of meat, fish, and other foods at low temperatures. For maximum utility, however, such ice should be free from water and from powdered ice and behave when handled in much the same manner as small flakes of coal or slate. Moreover, since the cost of the ice is a substantial item in the expense of preserving the foods, it is necessary that the ice be produced at low cost.

An additional highly desirable characteristic of a flake ice making machine resides in its ability to be cleaned. Ice used for food preservation is in many localities subject to strict sanitation laws which cannot be met by the use of a closed inaccessible type of machine, especially a machine so formed as to form spaces in which contaminating bacteria or animal life may be harbored. Complicated valves and other parts, undesirable in any event because of the service problems they present, are particularly objectionable because of this sanitary problem.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved flake ice making machine is provided which attains these ends to a large degree. The unit is entirely open and is readily accessible at all points for inspection or cleaning. Yet, if desired, it may be provided with a removable housing without difliculty. The ice is formed efiiciently at nearly perfect thermal efliciency and is dislodged from the freezing surface by knife means which require relatively small mechanical power input. No new water is added to the freezing surface for a fixed time period prior to dislodging the ice flakes so that the ice cools well below its freezing point and carries no surface water. Moreover, the ice and water dripping from the freezing surface are separated in a simple and yet effective manner so that neither is contaminated with the other and all the ice formed is recovered as useful flakes.

Moreover, in the apparatus of the present invention the ice drops downwardly through the freezing drum in a manner that requires no special ice-carrying parts and is not subject to jamming.

Further in accordance with the present invention the ice is dislodged in flakes from the freezing surface by the application of simultaneous bond-shearing and lifting forces. Such force application, developed by the knife configuration of the present invention, serves to break the ice in a particularly effective manner at high efficiency and with minimum production of powdered me.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved flake ice making machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient flake ice machine.

Further it is an object of the present invention to 2,716,869 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 provide a flake ice making machine which is easily cleaned and sanitary.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flake ice machine wherein the ice flakes are separated from dripping water and yet drop in a relatively free manner through the machine to a receiving basket or other device located below the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved flake ice making machine in which there are no relatively moving pipe parts so that it is unnecessary to provide moving sealing means to prevent leakage.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved blade for flake ice making machines which exerts a pulling force on the ice flakes to detach the same from the freezing surface while exerting shearing force tending to break the bond between the ice and surface.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an axial cross-sectional view with parts in elevation of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a crosssectional view through axis 22, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper edge of the freezing drum of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 but showing the knives and other rotor parts adjacent the freezing drum;

Figure 4a is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure 4 showing the ice engaging grooves on the knife surface;

Figure 5 is a View in perspective of the machine of Figure 1 with the freezing drum removed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the axis 6-6, Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the axis 77, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the axis 8-8, Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an axial cross-section with parts in elevation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of Figure 9 showing the water header and water deflecting trough over the knife blades;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view 13-43, Figure 10;

Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through axis 14-14, Figure 11; and,

Figure 15 is an enlarged view through axis 1515, Figure 12.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown generally at 10 a vertical freezing drum defined by concentric inner and outer metal jackets 10a and 10b, respectively. These jackets are secured together at their top and bottom portions by the annular spacers 10c and 10d, respectively, which are welded to the jackets to define a closed annular space to contain evaporating refrigerant. A series of four upper brackets 12 is welded to the outer jacket 10a adjacent its upper edge and a series of four similar brackets 14 is welded to that jacket adjacent its lower edge. The drum, and hence the entire machine,

through axis 3.0ltil,

through axis 11l1,

through axis may be supported by these brackets which may rest upon or be anchored to suitable support means (not shown).

Refrigerant is introduced into the annular space within drum by the pipe 16 and leaves as a vapor through the outlet pipe 18. Within the annular space the refrigerant evaporates as shown to take up heat from the inner jacket 10b and thereby freeze water thereon.

The outer jacket 10a is preferably encased in heat insulation to minimize loss of cooling effect from this wall.

Radial arms 20 are secured to the bracket 14 and extend inwardly as shown in Figure 2. These arms are welded to the ring 22 which carries the bearing block 24, this block being secured to ring 22 by the mounting bolts 26. A central round hollow shaft 28 is located concentrically with the drum 10 and receives a stub insert at its lower end. This insert or cap defines an inner sleeve bearing portion 30a which is received in the sleeve-bearing portion of block 24. It

also defines an annular shoulder 30b which rests upon an annular seat in the block 24 to carry the weight of the rotor of which shaft 28 is the central part.

The shoulder 30b and the mating portions of the block 24 are of good bearing material, such as Babbitt metal, to minimize friction losses. Suitable means (not shown) is provided to lubricate these parts.

The shaft 28 is held in upright position by the gear casing 32 which is secured in fixed relation to the drum 10 by brackets 34 or other suitable means. The shaft receives an end block 36 which extends through the lower wall 32a of this hearing to define a sleeve bearing. A bull gear 38 is secured to the top end of this block to be driven by a suitable worm or pinion (not shown) to rotate shaft 28, and the complete rotor, as described hereafter.

The upper edge of the inner jacket 10b is beveled outwardly to define a conical surface 40. An annular water header 42 is positioned directly above this header and has a series of water outlet openings uniformly distributed about its periphery and located to cause water to drop on the beveled face 40 as shown in enlarged view in Figure 3.

The droplets of water issuing from the openings 42a fall on the conical face 40 and then form rivulets expanding in fan shape as shown in Figure 3. By the time these rivulets reach the edge of the cylindrical portion of jacket 1%, they cover the entire periphery uniformly to provide a smooth and uniform flow of water on the freezing surface.

Water is fed from the supply tank 44 to the header 7 42 by the vertical pipe 46, the circular pipe 48, and the vertical pipes 50, the latter pipes being disposed about the header 42 to provide water flow into each quadrant of the header as shown in Figure 2.

The water level in tank 44, and hence the pressure head in header 42 is controlled by the float valve unit 52. This unit is of conventional construction, including a float operable to raise and lower the arm 52b to shut off flow from intake pipe 54 when the level in tank 4-4 exceeds a predetermined value. It may be adjusted by suitable means (not shown) to control the rate of water flow on the jacket 10b.

Water is also discharged into the tank 44 by the pipe 56 which is connected to the discharge port of centrifugal pump 58. The intake port of this pump is connected through the pipe 60 to the annular gutter 62 which, as hereafter described, catches water dropping from the drum [0. Since the water dropping from the drum 10 has been cooled by its travel over that drum, the water discharged by the pipe 56 is cooler than the water from the pipe 54 and a reduction in cooling load results from use of the recirculating system.

The gutter 62 is somewhat larger in diameter than the inner surface of the jacket 1%. A deflector 64 of conical conformation converging upwardly acts to defleet the water as it drops from the jacket 1% to the diameter of the gutter 62 so that the water so dropping is discharged into the gutter without falling directly. This deflector is carried by the shaft 28. being secured thereto by the arm 66 which is affixed to the collar 68 on the shaft 28. The deflector 64 extends to a small diameter well within the jacket 1017 so as to catch droplets spaced from the inner surface of the jacket 10b and at its lower margin is located directly above the gutter 62 so that all water deflected must ultimately be discharged to the gutter 62.

As shown in Figure 2, the deflector 64 has a sectorshaped window defined by the edges 64a. This window permits the ice produced by the machine to drop freely without being deflected into the gutter.

The shaft 28 carries a vertical web-like longitudinal arm 70, Figures 1 and 2. This arm has upper and lower radial extensions 72 which, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, have radially oriented end portions 72a and transverse or circumferentially oriented end portions 72!). An L- shaped angle bar 74 is secured to the ends of the portions 72a by the bolts 76. In addition, the bar 74 is engaged near its angle portions by the set bolts '78 which are threadedly received in the portions 721) of the extensions 72. These bolts are anchored in adjusted position by the jam nuts 81.

The angle bar 74 carries a series of ice cutting blades or knives 80, Figure 5, secured to the outer flat face of the bar. These knives are of angle bar construction and are secured to the bar 74 by bolts 83 which are received in corresponding holes in the bar '74 to secure the knives thereto and in predetermined positions. The nuts 83a hold the bolts in place.

Each knife St) has a sharpened straight edge portion a which, as shown in Figure 6, is disposed nontangentially in relation to the inner periphery of the jacket 10b and oriented to bite into the ice I formed on the jacket 10b as the shaft 28 is rotated counterclockwise as seen in Figure 6. Rearwardly of this edge, and forming a continuation thereof, the blade has a sharpened arcuate edge 80b which is of the same radius as the inner periphery of the jacket 10b. This edge extends downwardly in relation to the edge 8% so as to urge the ice, already grooved by the edge 80a, in the downward shearing direction in relation to the bond holding it to the surface of jacket 10b.

The upper face of the blade 30 has a plurality of grooves 800 oriented in direction away from the edge 80b. These grooves serve to pull the ice away from the surface of jacket 1%. The ice, as the bond to the jacket 10!) is sheared, is urged downwardly against the grooves 860 and rides in these grooves as the rotor unit turns, thereby being pulled from the interior surface of the jacket 10b. Thus the ice experiences combined scoring, bond shearing, and lifting action as the knives travel through it. This action has been found to produce ice flakes without substantial quantities of powdered ice and without large mechanical power requirements.

An ice cutting knife having features in common with the knife above described is disclosed and claimed in my cop'ending application entitled Method of and Means for Forming Flake Ice, Serial No. 183,738, filed September 8, 1950, and assigned to the same assignee the present invention.

The ice is formed in a dry state in advance of the knives 80 by the trough 82, Figures l. 2, and 5. As seen best in Figure 5, this trough is of arcuate shape, extending in advance of and behind the knives and is secured to the rotor by the bracket 84 and the bolts 340. the latter being received in suitably threaded holes in the upper portion 72 of the web 70. As seen best in the view of Figure 4, the trough 32 is of U-shaped crosssection and has an outrigger or gutter portion 820 which extends radially outwardly and under the holes 42a of the header 42. The ends of the trough are sealed by walls 82b to define a water tight structure.

The bottom of trough 82 slopes downwardly to form a well portion 820, from which portion a drain pipe 82d, Figure 4, extends. Hose 86 is received over this drain pipe and extends across the rotor to its outlet end 86a which is located directly above the deflector 64. Water collecting in the trough 82 drains through the hose 86 to be discharged upon the deflector 64 from which it flows radially outwardly and into the gutter 62.

The hose 86 is held in position by the radial arm 88 carried by the shaft 28.

The trough 82 extends approximately 35 degrees forwardly of the knives 8%). This is a sufficient distance at normal speeds of operation to interrupt the flow of water on the jacket for a time period adequate to permit the ice to freeze completely dry so that when the knives engage the ice it is entirely free of surface moisture. The trough 82 also extends approximately 30 degrees in the trailing direction in relation to the knives 80. This prevents droppage of water on the ice flakes as they fall behind the knives.

it will be noted from Figure 2 that the window formed in the deflector 64 by the edges 64a is of approximately the same circumferential extent as the trough 82. However, this window trails in relation to the trough so that water dropping from the jacket lilb after the trough 82 first interrupts the water supply is deflected to gutter 62 and ice flakes dropping even after the water supply is restored drop freely through the machine. The trail ing relation of the window with respect to the trough does not give rise to mixing of the water and ice because water, or ice, dropping from the top of the jacket 1% requires a period time to descend to the bottom of the machine and the degree of trailing only allows for this time.

Figures 9 to show a modified construction of the present invention which has been found particularly useful for large fiake ice making machines capable of making as much as 12 tons of flake ice per day. Parts corresponding to those of the machine of Figures 1 to 8 are shown with the number 100 added.

in the apparatus of Figure 9 the concentric jackets 11th and 11% define a drum 1161 with an annular space for evaporating refrigerant. Ice 1 is formed on the interior surface of jacket 11% and is broken therefrom in flakes as described in further detail hereafter.

The shaft 128, Figure 9, is supported concentrically within the drum 11% by the gear housing 132 and by the support bearing block 124, the latter being carried by the spider arms 120 extending inwardly from the drum 119. The shaft 128 is rotated at low angular velocity by the bull gear 138 which is driven by a suitable worm or pinion (not shown). The center portion of the shaft is of square cross-section as shown.

Water is supplied to the top edge of the jacket 1101) by the header 142 formed of a single section of round pipe. This header is carried by the brackets 143 which are attached to theannular top plate 1100 at the top of the drum 110. Water is fed to the header 142 by the pipe 146, which is connected to a suitable supply, such as tank 44, Figure 1.

The header 142 has a series of holes 142a extending uniformly about its periphery and each positioned to direct the water against the top portion of the jacket 116 as shown in Figure 9.

The flow of water on the jacket 11011 is interrupted in advance of and behind the ice cutting knives 180 by the trough 182. This trough is carried from shaft 128 by the arm 184 secured to the upper web-arm 170. The trough 182 is also supported at approximately its center by the vertical knife-carrying angle bar 174.

As seen best in Figure 12, the trough 182 has a sloped portion 182a which extends between the header 142 and the inner jacket 110b, thus catching all the water issuing and forms dry ice without surface water.

from the header 142 in the region of the trough and collecting the same within the confines of the trough. The trough slopes down to form a well at 1820 and has an outlet pipe 182d forming a drain at the bottom of this well. Hose 186 receives the outlet pipe and extends downwardly and peripherally of the rotor unit to discharge at end 186a over and into the gutter 162.

The gutter 162, Figures 9 and 11, is of annular shape and is of radius to receive directly all droplets of water from the inner jacket 11%. The gutter discharges through the drain pipe which may, for example, be connected to a suitable pump (not shown) to return the water to the header 142.

The knives 180, Figure 9, are carried by the angle bar 174 which in turn is attached to the shaft 128 by the web-arms 170. These arms are welded to the shaft 128 and define pad portions 170, Figure 10, to which the angle bar is attached by bolts or the like.

Each knife 180 is of generally the same configuration as the knives 80, Figures 6 to 8. However, a slot 18% is provided at the trailing portion of each knife so that the downwardly bent edge 18% may readily be formed. This edge acts to push the ice downwardly in flakes after it is scored by the cutting edge 1800.

The knives 180 are followed by a scraper bar 100 which extends the length of the jacket 11% and dislodges any particles of ice remaining thereon after passage of the knives. The scraper bar is supported by upper and lower arcuate arms 102 bolted to the horizontal portions a of each web-arm 179. As shown, the scraper bar 100 trails the knives 184) by about 30 degrees.

As shown in Figure 11, a bracket 166 is aflixed to shaft 128 at its lower end by welding or similar means. A jaw shaped support arm 166a is bolted to this bracket and carries the ice deflector 164', which is secured to the ends of the jaw by the screws 16411.

As seen best in Figure 10, the ice deflector 164 is positioned in registry with the knives and the scraper blade 100. The deflector is of conical shape, converging downwardly and, as shown in Figure 9, overlies the portion of the annular water trough 1&2 located under the jacket 11% and within the confines thereof.

Operation of the ice making machine of Figure 9 is as follows. Refrigerant in the annular space between jackets 110a and 110k cools the inner surface of the jacket 11012 below the freezing point of water. Consequently, as the water from header 142 falls on the jacket, it freezes to form the ice I thereon. This ice builds up in thickness behind the scraper 1% and by the time the trough 182 interrupts further supply of water, the requisite thickness is achieved.

For the time following interruption of the water supply by the trough 182 and before the knives operate on the ice, it cools well below water freezing temperature The knives, as they travel through this dry ice make parallel grooves in the same by the action of the edges 1390, Figure 16. After grooving, the ice is wedged downwardly in direction transverse to the bond holding it to the surface of jacket 11011 by the portion 1189b of each knife.

The scoring and shearing action of the knives 18d breaks most of the ice from the jacket 1101) in dry flakes which drop downwardly. Upon falling through the bottom of the jacket 110b, these flakes strike the conical ice deflector 164 which directs them inwardly and away from the gutter 162. A suitable basket (not shown) is positioned in registry with the jacket 11% to receive these dry ice flakes.

If any flakes of ice adhere to the surface of the jacket 1101: after passage of the knives 180, they are dislodged by the scraper blade 100, Figure 10. This blade, which is spaced from the surface of the jacket 11% by a distance less than the thickness of the ice, readily dislodges the already loose ice fragments to cause them to fall upon ice deflector 164 to be directed into the ice receiving basket.

It will be noted that the machine of the present invention is inherently an open, readily cleaned, device having no complicated parts. The are no pipes or other connections required to transport water from the supply to the freezing surface. Yet the water and ice are kept entirely apart and not even the water dripping from the bottom of the freezing surface enters the ice flake product.

While I have shown and described specific structures embodying the present invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto and that various modifications and alternative constructions may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within their true spirit and scope.

The recirculating system, including the pipes 60 and 56 and pump 58, Figure 1, together with the tank 44, may

be altered without changing the operation of the machine. In particular, the tank may be placed below the level of the gutter 62 and the water pumped directly from the tank to the header 48 by a positive displacement pump.

In the appended claims I have used the term shield to designate an element, such as the trough 82, Figure l, or the trough 182, Figure 9, which intercepts the circumferentially uniform flow of water from the header (42, Figure 1; 142, Figure 9) to the freezing cylinder.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice without the use of relatively moving watercarrying pipe parts comprising in combination: a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned above the drum to cause circumferentialiy uniform water flow onto the surface, a rotor within the drum and adapted to rotate about the axis thereof, the rotor having a series of vertically spaced ice cutting knives mounted to engage the ice on the drum as the rotor turns, and a shield mounted for rotation in unison with the rotor and above the knives to interrupt the flow of water to the drum in advance of the knives to permit the water to form dry ice for engagement by the knives.

2. An ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice without the use of relatively moving watercarrying pipe parts comprising in combination; a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned over the drum to cause circumferentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, a carriage revolvable about the surface, a series of vertically spaced ice cutting knives mounted on the carriage to bear against the surface of the drum to break ice therefrom as the carriage is revolved, a shield mounted for movement in unison with the carriage and located above the knives to interrupt flow of water to the drum in advance of the knives to permit the water to form dry ice before breaking, an annular gutter having a radius different than the radius of the drum and nonrotatably disposed beneath the drum in coaxial relation thereto to catch water dripping therefrom, and deflecting elements mounted for rotation in unison with the knives to deflect falling water into the gutter, the deflecting elements having a window below and trailing the knives to permit ice flakes to fall freely.

3. An ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice without the use of relatively moving watercarrying pipe parts comprising in combination; a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in 8 registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned over the drum to cause circumferentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, a carriage revolvable about the surface, a series of vertically spaced ice cutting knives mounted on the carriage to bear against the surface of the drum to break ice therefrom as the carriage is revolved, a shield mounted for movements in unison with the carriage and located above the knives to interrupt flow of water to the drum in advance of the knives to permit the water to form dry ice before breaking, an annular gutter non-rotatably disposed beneath the drum and in alignment with the surface to catch water dripping directly downwardly therefrom, and a deflector mounted on the carriage for rotation in unison with the knives and positioned below and trailing the knives to deflect ice flakes radially to miss the gutter as they drop.

4. An ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice without the use of relatively moving watercarrying pipe parts, comprising in combination; a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned over the drum to cause circumferentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, means revolvable about the drum to dislodge ice in flakes therefrom along a travelling element of the surface of the drum, a trough mounted for rotation in unison with the means and extending under the header in the region of the means to interrupt the flow of water to the drum in advance of the means to permit the water to form dry ice before being engaged by the means, the trough having a well and an outlet opening at the bottom of the well, and a water pipe adapted to receive water from said outlet opening and mounted for movement in unison with the means and the trough, the pipe extending downwardly of the drum and discharging at a point spaced from the means to discharge the water without wetting the ice.

5. An ice making machine adapted to produce flake ice without the use of relatively moving water-carrying pipe parts, comprising in combination, a vertical drum defining an interior cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned over the drum to cause circumferentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, a rotor disposed within the drum and defining ice cutting means adapted to engage the surface of the drum along a traveling element thereof as the rotor is rotated, a trough carried by the rotor and positioned below the header to interrupt flow of water therefrom to the surface of the drum, the trough being positioned above and leading the ice cutting means to permit the ice to dry before cutting, an annular gutter non-rotatably mounted below the drum to catch water dripping directly from the surface, a deflector mounted on the rotor and below and trailing the ice cutting means, the deflector overlaying the gutter to deflect dripping ice radially thereof, and a drain pipe mounted on the rotor and in communication with the trough, the pipe extending downwardly and circumferentially to discharge into the gutter.

6. An ice making machine adapted to produce flake ice without the use of relatively moving water-carrying pipe parts, comprising in combination, a vertical drum defining an interior cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably disposed above the drum and in registry with the surface, the header having a series of water outlets positioned over the drum to cause cireumferentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, a rotor disposed within the drum and defining ice cutting means adapted to engage the surface of the drum along a traveling element thereof as the rotor is turned, a trough carried by the rotor and positioned below the header to interrupt flow of water therefrom to the surface of the drum, the trough being positioned above and leading the ice cutting means to permit the ice to dry before cutting, an :nnular gutter non-rotatably mounted below the drum and coaxial therewith, the gutter having a radius differing from the radius of the surface of the drum, a deflector mounted on the rotor and adapted to deflect water dripping from said surface into the gutter, the deflector having a window below and trailing the ice cutting means to permit ice to fall freely from the surface of the drum, and a drain pipe mounted on the rotor and in communication with the trough, the pipe extending downwardly and circumferentially to discharge over the deflector.

7. An ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice without the use of relatively moving watercarrying pipe parts comprising in combination, a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, an annular header non-rotatably positioned above the drum and in registry with said surface, the header having a series of water outlets above the surface to cause circumrerentially uniform unconfined water flow onto the surface, a series of vertically spaced ice cutting knives mounted for movement relative to the surface of the drum to break ice therefrom, a scraper blade mounted for movement in unison with the knives and trailing the same to dislodge ice fragments adhering to the drum after passage of the knives, and a shield fixedly mounted in relation to the knives and located above the knives and scraper blade to interrupt flow of water to the drum in advance of the knives to permit the water to form dry ice before breaking.

8. In an ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice, the improvement comprising, a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, a rotor defining ice cutting means adapted to engage the surface of the drum along a traveling element thereof as the rotor is turned, an annular gutter non-rotatably mounted below the drum and coaxial therewith, the gutter having a radius differing from the radius of the surface of the drum, and a deflector mounted on the rotor and adapted to deflect water dripping from said surface into the gutter, the deflector having a window below and trailing the ice cutting means to permit ice to fall free from the surface of the drum.

9. in an ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice, the improvement comprising, a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface, a rotor revolvable about the drum and defining ice cutting means adapted to engage the surface of the drum along a traveling element thereof as the rotor is turned, an annular gutter non-rotatably mounted below the drum and coaxial therewith, the gutter having substantially the radius of the drum to catch water dripping from the surface thereof, and a deflector mounted on the rotor adapted to deflect ice dropping from the surface of the drum away from the gutter, the deflector being positioned below and trailing the ice cutting means.

10. In an ice making machine adapted to produce dry flake ice, the improvement comprising: a vertical drum defining a cylindrical ice forming surface; a rotor defining ice cutting means adapted to engage the surface of the drum along a traveling element thereof as the rotor is turned; means to discharge water onto the drum in circumferentially uniform unconfined flow; an arcuate trough overlaying the surface of the drum in the region of the ice cutting means and intercepting the water, said trough being mounted for rotation in unison with the rotor; and, means for discharging water from the trough at points spaced from the ice cutting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,843 Carlton Nov. 16, 1915 2,307,311 Vilter Jan. 5, 1943 2,310,468 Short Feb. 9, 1943 2,521,089 Phipps Sept. 5, 1950 2,575,374 Walsh Nov. 21, 1951 2,585,020 Lessard Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,021 Lessard Feb. 12, 1952 2,659,212 Lees Nov. 17, 1953 

